The dramatic skyline of peaks and jagged volcanic plugs which tower over the highland plateaux of the Simien Mountains compete with rugged gorges and deep gullies to form what is, arguably, the most awe-inspiring landscape in Africa. As we trek through this distant mountain range we pass small hamlets where villagers eke out an existence from the limited arable land. We may come across large troops of Gelada baboons foraging on the escarpment; and, with luck, spot Walia ibex and Ethiopian wolves.

Walk profile

Daily distance in km/miles:

Day 3

13.0km/8.1miles

Day 4

21.0km/13.0miles

Day 5

10.0km/6.2miles

Day 6

13.0km/8.1miles

Day 7

17.0km/10.6miles

Day 8

21.0km/13.0miles

Day 9

21.0km/13.0miles

Day 10

10.0km/6.2miles

Day 11

17.0km/10.6miles

Day 12

7.0km/4.3miles

Number of days walking: 10

Pace: Approximately 2.5-12 hours walking per day

Terrain: High altitude; including steep, rocky terrain

Itinerary

Show detailed itinerary

1Day 1Start Addis Ababa; half-day city tour.

Group flight arrives in the morning. In the afternoon we go on a sightseeing tour that takes us to the Ethnographic Museum and the Church of the Trinity where Haile Selassies' remains now lie.See more images and videos

2Day 2Fly to Gondar; city tour.

We have a spectacular flight to Gondar. From the air we see the extraordinary nature of the Ethiopian plateau, cut again and again by immensely deep gorges. Gondar was once the capital of Ethiopia and in the afternoon we visit the castles, which were built in the 17th and 18th centuries by several generations of Ethiopia's kings. Nearby is the Debre Birhan Selassie church with its sensational angelic ceiling, and the bathhouse of Fasil at which thousands of Ethiopians celebrate Timkat festival every January. Our hotel is up on a cliff top with wonderful views overlooking the town.

We travel by road the 105 kilometres to the small town of Debark, the nearest town to the Simien National Park. There is a little time to explore the area while the guides prepare the equipment and mules for the trek. From Debark, walking largely uphill, the landscape suddenly opens onto a picturesque valley dotted with mud hut houses, horses and livestock. We walk to Buyit Ras, entrance to the park, and camp close to the edge of the escarpment. There are spectacular views across the range from here. See more images and videos

4Day 4Trek to Geech via Jinbar Waterfall.

Walking near small settlements and villages we have fine views across the lowlands and the Simien plateau. We pass Sankabar before continuing to Geech (3,600m). En route we see a stunning waterfall; cascading through a hole in the rock, it falls 500 metres to the bottom of the gorge and is particularly impressive after the rainy season (by Christmas the waterfall may not be visible). The last 2 hours of the day involve a steep climb up to our campsite, where we stay for two nights. See more images and videos

5Day 5Day walk to Imetgogo.

A spectacular day - in the morning we walk to Imetgogo (3,926m). Situated at the end of a long ridge, which disappears on either side to the lowlands below, there are outstanding views of the gorge and mountain range and it is easy to understand why the striking formations have been described as 'the chess pieces of the Gods'. We should get our first glimpse of Ras Dashen from here and we can see clearly our route for the coming days. If we haven't already encountered them, there is a good chance of seeing the indigenous Gelada, also known as the 'bleeding heart' baboon or Lion monkey. The Gelada is in fact neither baboon or monkey but the last remaining species of a branch of high altitude, grass eating primates that have all but vanished. We return to the same camp and enjoy an afternoon at rest. See more images and videos

6Day 6Trek to Chennek via Enatyie Escarpment.

Another wonderful walk - heading in the same direction as yesterday we soon branch off to reach the edge of the escarpment which we follow to the top, Inatye (4070m). The dramatic views continue all the way down to our camp at Chennek.

A memorable but hard day's trekking of ascents and descents as we make our way from Chenek to Ambiko. We should see birds like the Ground Scraper Thrush, Siskins, Falcons and Kestrel. Today is also our best chance of seeing the rare and endangered Walia Ibex, a species that can only be found in the Simien National Park. From Chenek we climb to a pass at 4,200m and from here the fit and energetic may like to continue on a further hour up to the summit of Bwuhit at 4,430m. Otherwise from the pass we have a big drop down to the Meshah River at 2850m, via the village of Chiro Leba, where we may be able to visit the school and small clinic (if open). From the river we ascend 350m to our camp, where we spend 2 nights at Ambiko. See more images and videos

8Day 8Ascent of Ras Dashen.

We ascend Ras Dashen before returning to Ambiko. This day is the longest day of the trek. It may take up to twelve hours climbing 1350m to the summit. Ras Dashen has 3 peaks and we climb to the middle highest peak - the roof of Ethiopia. Our efforts are rewarded with views from the summit which are out of this world. See more images and videos

9Day 9Trek to Sona via Arkwasiye.

Another challenging day, although not as difficult as the previous one! From Ambiko we trek to the superbly positioned camp at Sona. After plenty of ups and downs we might be able to stop for some local coffee in the small village of Arquaziye before continuing for another hour and half to our camping site at Sona. See more images and videos

10Day 10Descend to Ansiya Wenz River and on to Lamo Camp.

A much easier day! We descend into the lowlands. Our day begins with a 1,100m descent into the Ansiya valley, where we have a relaxed lunch break. We then move onto our camp, near the village of Mekarebya. This is an excellent day for seeing birds and there are very good views up to the Simien Mountains. We can look back with pride upon the areas we have recently trekked. See more images and videos

11Day 11Continue to Mulit Camp.

From our camp we drop 350m, to where we have another long idyllic lunch spot. The final 2 hours of the day involve a hot 400m of ascent, to our final campsite at Mulit. Here we are completely surrounded by fantastic views all around us. See more images and videos

12Day 12Short walk to Adi Arkay where the trek finishes; drive to Gondar.

Our final day's walking takes us to Adi Arkay from where we drive, via Debark to Gondar (approx 6 hours driving), for a much deserved wash and rest! See more images and videos

13Day 13Fly to Addis; trip ends.

Depending on flight times there may be time to relax and explore Gondar before we fly back to Addis. The trip ends this evening in Addis. Those on the group flights will have access to day-use rooms before catching the flight departing after midnight.See more images and videos

Your images

Adult Group

This is a small group adult holiday. The group is usually between 4 and 18 in size, with an average of 12 like-minded clients booking individually, in a couple or as friends together.

Activity level

You have a good level of fitness and are looking for a physically challenging holiday. Previous experience is essential for activity based trips.

What's included

What's included

All breakfasts, 9 lunches, 9 dinners

All accommodation (see below)

All transport and listed activities

Tour leader throughout

Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)

What's not included

Travel insurance

Single accommodation (available on request)

Visas or vaccinations

Accommodation details

Wild Camping & Hotels

You will spend 9 nights wild camping and 4 nights in standard hotels. Tents will be erected by local staff members, who will also cook and wash up. Limited single accommodation is available and we can arrange extra accommodation before or after the trip.
Single supplement available from GBP200

Essential info

Vaccinations and Visa
All nationalities require a visa for Ethiopia which can be obtained before departure (at a cost of GBP26) or on arrival (at a cost of USD50 - be prepared to queue for a while). Please note that the Ethiopian government may change their visa on arrival policy at very short notice so make sure to check the latest advice. A certificate of Yellow Fever vaccination maybe required in order to obtain your visa, for instance if you're travelling from a country at risk of Yellow Fever transmission - please check with the embassy for the latest advice.
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Yellow Fever. Malaria prophylaxis is essential and we suggest that you seek advice from your GP or travel health clinic about which malaria tablets to take. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Holiday style

This is a strenuous trek with several days spent close to or above 4,000 metres. There are a number of long days including the optional ascent of Ras Dashen, at 4,543m the highest mountain in Ethiopia; this involves 1,300m of ascent and descent in one day. There is also a lot of ascent and descent on many of the other days, and some fairly exposed rough trails. We do not suggest that you attempt this trek unless you are confident of your ability. The total cumulative amount of ascent is 6,500m, and the descent is 7,650m. There are 10 days walking with full porterage, and the trip is graded C (this is at the tougher end of the grade C scale though). On the October departures there is the possibility of some river crossings. The trails in the Simien Mountains are generally well marked and the landmarks are distinctive. We will be walking for about 6-7 hours a day (although on 4 days as much as 10-12 hours) and the terrain can be quite tough in places. Much of the trek is in remote areas.
If you suffer from vertigo, you may want to carefully consider this trip before booking. There are steep drops in the Simien Mountains, which is what makes the scenery so spectacular. There is never an occasion when you need walk close to the edge of the cliffs so if you are happy to stand back you should not be discomforted in any way.

Eating & drinking

All breakfasts, 9 lunches, 9 dinners
Hotel meals are generally good although they can lack variety. Local dishes tend to be very good if you like hot, spicy food although milder versions can be requested. Local food is traditionally eaten with the hands. The sour bread known as injera is used as a scoop for the casserole dishes known as wat. All food on trek is cooked for you and, although local produce can be a bit limited in the mountains, it is usually of a high standard. Vegetarians can be catered for, though you may find the diet somewhat limited. Clients who have specialist dietary requirements must contact us to discuss if they can be accommodated. Ethiopia is a poor country and they are not familiar with gluten or lactose free diets.
Please note that you should not drink the tap water in Ethiopia. We also suggest that clients bring snack food as this can be difficult to obtain outside of Addis Ababa.

Trip notes

Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want to know about this trip, including
detailed itinerary and full kit list

Weather & seasonality

It is likely to be sunny most of the time on all departures. Most of Ethiopia is high, so although the sun is powerful, the temperature is usually very pleasant. There is, however, the risk of sunburn at high altitude, so it is essential you ensure you are adequately protected. Nights are generally cool to cold, depending on altitude and frosts are possible overnight in the mountains, when the night temperature could drop to 0degC and exceptionally to -5degC. Daytime temperatures seldom rise above 25degC except at lower altitudes. It can be very hot in the lowlands in December, January and February. The main rains come between June and late September, and while November is one of the coolest months of the year it is also generally one of the clearest. January and February will be hotter and much drier. The landscape is likely to be more arid than in October and November, which can still be quite lush after the rains. Please note that there is a possibility of rain on all departures (especially October).

Gallery

Reviews & community

Those epic views come at a price - lots of steep ascents and descents - but The Simiens are achingly beautiful and worth the effort.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

I have so many memories. Mesi made us all keep quiet for 5 mins so we could take in the view on day 2 and it was quite overwhelming. The shower at Chenek camp wouldn't work so Liz and Mesi poured freezing cold water over us as we squealed, amidst much laughter. Being surrounded by kids wanting to practice their English. Having my hair braided (and subsequently losing a handful!!!) by a little girl who was fascinated by blonde hair. The list is endless.

What did you think of your group leader?

Mesi and Liz made the holiday for us. We could not have asked for more attentive, fun and knowledgeable guides. Half of our group had an ailment of some kind and Liz took care of every one brilliantly while Mesi managed the local crew impeccably.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

This is a tough trek. We had very long ascents and descents, which are difficult at altitude. The crew were so patient and supportive but be prepared for this.
One person in the group had a reaction to doxycycline - photosensitivity which meant she had to be blind-folded and make use of Vanessa the ambulance mule.
A few of us didn't bother with anti-malarials. There is a risk-benefit that needs to be discussed with a healthcare professional prior to travel.
Buy double the wet wipes you think you need, it is very dusty in the dry season.
Don't under-estimate the sun. The temperature is pleasant much of the time but you need a lot of protection.
Take rehydrating salts to flavour the water and replace sweat. Dioralyte tastes horrible!
Some campsites need 2 chlorine tabs per litre so budget for this
Take moisturiser. I didn't bother and ended up all dried up like a raisin!
If you have space in your bag, take kit that you are happy to donate to the crew at the end of the week
I didn't need most of my snacks as the guides always had biscuits, nuts etc, although some of the men were glad of extra.
The food is excellent. Chef produces wonders every day….but most of us wished that two sheep hadn't been slaughtered because this meant lamb on 4 nights out of 9 and we didn't really want it. Some groups might love this but if not, tell the guides early in the week.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

There were a number of moments on trek that I wished I had booked a beach holiday because my knees hurt so much, but it was a truly wonderful experience. The crew didn't just do their jobs, they looked after us. Be warned, Ethiopia will get under your skin!

The website describes this trek as at the harder end of challenging and I think that is absolutely spot on. It is also totally worthwhile with the astounding scenery, remarkable wild life and smiling locals.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Obviously getting to the top of Ras Dashen gave a real sense of achievement but it would have been a great trip even without that bonus. I hadnt expected so much contact with the locals and the enthusiasm of the children was totally infectious; And I certainly had never imagined that a large group of Gelada baboons would walk through our group as though we werent there!

What did you think of your group leader?

The Sara/ Messi duo was unbeatable. With Messi I had total confidence in everything he did while Sara was the most efficient/ enthusiastic/ caring guide I have ever had the privilege of trekking with.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Be prepared for extremes of temperature. On two of the camp sites the temperature came down to zero in the tent (and was obviously much colder outside). But during the day the sun was also stronger and hotter than I had anticipated - in spite of the altitude I walked in shorts and short sleeved shirts almost every day.
And dont feel the difficulties are over once you have completed the three very long days (including ras dashen)! Personally the hardest and most nerve racking day for me was the subsequent long descent on quite difficult paths from the Highlands to the Lowlands - a day described in the Trip Notes as 'much easier'. I suspect I had let my concentration slip - not a good idea!

Just back from a seriously good trekking &amp; camping holiday taking in the Simen Mountains in Northern Ethiopian.
Filled all my expectation of a cultural trekking holiday.
To enjoy the trek you must be physically fit and used to a multy day regime with early starts hot days and possibly cold nights for this Challenging graded holiday.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

The fantastic changing views of the mountains as we travelled around the area, together with the wildlife and flora.

What did you think of your group leader?

Sarah was 100% committed to the group going away from the experience fully satisfied, nothing was too much trouble for her, where she got the endless energy to multy task amazed me.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

You are going to be away from mass tourism, in wild country, away from the comforts of home, accept this and take home with you some excellent memories to amaze your friends and family.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Go for it now before these wild places become full of tourist hotels and fully surfaced roads, enjoy the present conditions and take yourself back to nature.

Murray inherited the travel bug early on in life from his globe-trotting parents - spending every school holiday in far-flung destinations around the world. Living in Central America during his Gap Year, he went on to study Tourism Management in his native Scotland before moving to Japan on the JET programme, teaching English to teenagers in Sapporo city. Since returning from the Far East, Murray has concentrated on visiting countries a little closer to home, including Morocco, Norway and Central Europe, where he now looks after the Exodus Operations.

Questions about your trip

Pick your question

What is the walking like in the Simien mountains?

It is a stunning area but you should be prepared for some long days walking at altitude. The longest day we did was about 10/11 hours but the average is about 7/8. The scenery is amazing, going from low grasslands up on to the escarpment, following valleys lined with tiny villages but without any roads. It can be demanding but well worth it!

Brendan Phelan - Customer Operations

Is it easy to get around Ethiopia?

You should be aware that, especially in the more remote areas and outside any cities, that the roads can be pretty rough and ready at times. Some drives can be long and dusty and you should be prepared for this. Saying that, there is always something to watch from the van, so you'll never bored!

Brendan Phelan - Customer Operations

Simien mountains articles

Sue Kannenberg travelled on this trip and you can read her article to get a personal viewpoint of the holiday.

What vaccinations do I need?

Unfortunately we are not qualified to answer all your questions in regards to travel health, so we strongly recommend you contact your GP or a Travel Health Clinic at least 8 weeks prior to departure for up-to-date information. There will be limited information in the trip notes but you should always seek further qualified medical advice.

Nomad Travel Clinics are experts in preparing people for travel, providing advice on vaccinations, anti-malarial and staying healthy whilst overseas. We have arranged a special 10% discount for Exodus passengers on any vaccinations that you may require! Take along your Nomad discount card, sent with your confirmation pack, or call Exodus for your special discount code.Visit www.nomadtravel.co.uk/exodus for further information.

How should I take my money to Ethiopia?

The local currency is the birr, which is closed currency meaning you cannot get it outside of the country. ATMs are limited and can be very unreliable when it comes to UK or foreign bank cards. In this case, you should take your money in cash, and change when you arrive. Sterling can be changed at the airport, but dollars would be best outside the capital, so maybe a mix of both.

Aurelija Selvestraviciute - Customer Operations

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